Hypodermic package and method of using the same



P. S. PITTENGER 'HYPODERIHC PACKAGE AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME Nov. 16 192 Filed Feb. 24. 1923 Patented Nov. 16, 1926.

" I eo-1:5 1

UNITED STATES PAT-E161" OFFICE.

PAUL s. PITTENGEER, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR won. 1:. MUL- FORD COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION oF PENN- SYLVANIA.

HYPODERMIC PACKAGE AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME.

' Application filed February 24, 1923. Serial No. 620,962.

In. the past much trouble has been experienced in utilizing medicinal prepara tions hypodermically when these were dispensed in ampules or stoppered vials, owing to the fact that it was difficult if not frequently impossible to transfer such preparations from the ampule 'or' vial to a hypodermie syringe, without destroying the sterility of or contaminating said preparation. This was due to the fact that when the needle of the hypodermic syringe was passed through the stopper of the vial into the interior of the same, the operation of the plunger of the syringe would not cause the liquid preparation to flow out of the vial into the syringe barrel because of the vacuum produced, and it was usually necessary for the operator to reciprocate the plunger a number of times in order to withdraw even a small portion of the liquid. If in the case of an ampule the neck was broken or the stopper removed from the vial so that the medicinal preparation therein could be freely drawn intoethe syringe, then the entrance of atmospheric air contami-- nated the liquid.

One object of my invention, therefore, is to provide a hypodermic set or outfit including a hypodermic syringe and one or more ampule-vials of which the latter shall contain a medicinal preparation capable 01 being withdrawn into the barrel of said syringe by one operation of its plunger without being contaminated by the air or otherwise.

A further object of the invention is to rovide a novel method of using or manipuating the above hypodermic outfit.

Another object of my' invention is to provide as a new article of manufacture an ampule-vial containing a medicinal preparation for hypodermic use so put up as to permit of its beingwithdrawn into a hypodermic syringe without bacterial or other contami natio I also desire to provide'an ampule-vial with a novel form of stopper and protective device therefor.

These objects and other advantageous ends I attain as hereinafter set forth, reference in w ich;

Fig. 1 is aside elevation of a hypodermic syrin e which may form part of and be used in connection with my invention;

bein had to the accompanying drawings,-

cludes a hypodermic needle 8 mounted on its nozzle or outlet.

The above described syringe may conveniently be employed to administer the sterile liquid from an ampule-vial 10 in the form of an elongated glass or other container having its outlet closed by a stopper 11, which in accordance with my invention, is centrally perforated for a portion of its length to provide a guideway for the needle 8 of the hypodermic syringe when the latter is introduced for the purpose of withdrawing the liquid contents m of said ampule-vial. In order to prevent accumulation of dust, bacteriaor any other material in the central passage12 of the stopper 11, I mount in it a tightly fitting stem'13 having a convex head 14 extending over and serving as a cover for the outer end of the stopper 11. It is to be noted that after the material a: has been placed in the ampulevial, the stopper inserted and the stem 13 with its cover placed in the passage 12, the whole is sterilized.

Further in accordance with my invention. the capacity of the barrel of the syringe and that of the ampule-vial 10 are made to bear a definite relation to each other, and I have found that to obtain the.best results,

the ampule-vial should have a capacity in the neighborhood of one-third more than that of the syringe barrel, though I may vary this proportion to some extent Without departing from my invention. Moreover the ampule-vial, instead of being completely filled with the medicinal preparation m is made to contain a quantity thereof substantially equal in volume to the capacity of the syringe barrel, so that for example, if the ampule-vial 10 be designed to contain 5 cc. of liquid and to have an air filled space 3 2.5 co. in volume, the barrel of the syringe would have a capacity of substantially 5 cc. The size of the air space is very essential, since if it is too small it will not permit-of sired to withdraw the material from the' ampule-vial, the plunger 4 of the syringe is drawn out into the position shown in Fig. 1,

, stem 13 is withdrawn fromthe passage 12 of after which the protective cover 14 with its /the stopper 11 and the 'needle* 8 of the syringe is forced through the u'nperforated portion of said stopper into the cavity of the ampule-vial. The air in the syringe barrel is now forcibly ejected into the ampule-vial and is compressed therein by movement of the syringe plunger 4 toward the outlet end of the barrel. \Vhen the plunger 4 is moved toward the closed end 2 of the syringe barrel, the air which has been compressed in the space y expands to force the .liquid on through the needle into the syringe until this is filled with liquid and without further or x the ordinary speed.

repeated operation of said plunger, after which the syringe may be used in the well understood manner to administerthe same. It is to be noted that if the air s ace in the ampnle-vial be proportionate y too small, it will not ermit of the ready entrance of 5 cc. of air and if it be too large, the air will not be suflicientlycompressed within it to completely eject all'of the liquid when the syringe plunger is drawn out at By the procedure described, a single operation of the syringe piston in opposite directions, sufiices to completely withdraw'all of the liquid fi om the ampule-vial so that much time is saved and there is 'no necessity to contaminate said liquid by prolonged and reptiated attempts to withdraw the same. oreover I am enabled to transfer the contents of a liquid filled ampule-vial to the barrel of a hypodermic syringe with a minimum danger of contamination, and it is obvious that if the needle 8 is sterile, it may "be forced through the stopper 11 of the ampule-vial without being contaminated, since the stem 13 has prevented the entrance into the guide passage '12 of anycontaminating material.

claim:

the liquid-filled spice of 1. A hypodermic set comprising an ampule-vial; a medicinal liquid filling substantially two-thirds of the capacity of the ampule-vial; and a hypodermic syringe having a capacity substantiall equal to that of the ampule-vial to ermit of the transfer of the liquid from the atter to said syringe, said ampule-vial'being sealed and having a part adapted to be penetrated by the needle of the hypodermic syringe whereby the air in the syringe may be forced into the ampule-vial to cause the subsequent displacement of the liquid into the syringe.

2. As a, new article of manufacture, an ampule-vial containing a medicinal liquid and having a part adapted to be penetrated by the needle of a hypodermic syringe, a

substantial proportion of the cavity of said; vial being unoccupied by said liquid and. adapted to receive sufficient air under pres-1 suieto permit withdrawal of substantially;

the entire quantity of contained liquid by said syringe after insertion of said-needle by, a single withdrawal of the plunger of said syringe.

3. As a new article of manufacture, an alnpule-vial containing a liquid medicinal preparation, a stopper for the ampule-vial having a needle guiding passage extending only part way through it'andhaving an imperforate portion inwardly of the guide passage. whereby the stopper normally closes the outlet of said ampule-vial and means independent of the needle to be inserted through the guide passage for maintaining the passage in sterile condition and comprising a stem detachably mounted in said passage.

4. As a new article of manufacture, an ampule-vial containing a liquid medicinal preparation, a stopper for the ampule-vial having a needle uiding passage extending onlypart. way through it and having an imperforate portion inwardly of the guide passage whereby 1 the stopper normally closes the outlet of said ampule-vial, means independent of the needle to be inserted through the guide passage for maintaining the passage in sterile condition and comprising a stem detachably mounted-in said-passage, and a headon said stem extending over. the entire outer face of the stopper.

' PAUL S. PITTENGER. 

